For centuries, this first name for boys has charmed parents in France and abroad, thanks in particular to its multiculturalism. This year, it is even among the most trendy first names.
For certain first names, time seems to have no impact as they continue to appeal and be chosen by parents. This is the case of a male first name in particular, which was recorded as early as the 7th century in Anglo-Saxon countries, before breaking through in France at the start of the 1990s. Since then, more and more future parents are letting themselves be charmed by this multicultural first name, steeped in history. Proof of this is that we find it in 9th place in the ranking of the most trendy first names for the year 2024, according to The Official First Names (First editions). It is even worn today by almost one in 134 boys in France.
This first name appears in a famous book, that of the Old Testament, and is directly part of a unique trend, alongside the first names Nathan, Noah, Raphael and Gabriel. This is the first name Adam, which has very strong symbolism for believing people since it refers, in the Book of Genesis, to the first man created by God. If we are interested in the etymology of the first name, Adam comes from Hebrew terms adamah And adom, which means “made of red earth”. It also has Babylonian or Phoenician origins, which refer to the terms “man” and “humanity”.
The first name Adam therefore appeals to parents looking for a multicultural first name. “A sure bet in Eastern countries and Scandinavia, Adam also grew up in French-speaking countries. It rises in the top 20 in Quebec, French-speaking Switzerland and Walloon“, specify the authors of the Official First Names.
In 2015, it even found itself in first place among the most given first names in Paris. This coincides with the peak recorded in 2016, with 4,663 births registered in France under the first name Adam, according to INSEE data. Since then, he has continued to appear in the French top 10. For the authors of the guide The Official First Names 2024, Claire Tabarly-Perrin and Stéphanie Rapoport, this name for boys owes its success above all to its multicultural dimension. We understand better why it is the 19th most popular male first name in France since 2000.